Understanding Corticosteroid Injections
In managing pain and inflammation, corticosteroid injections have become a common and well established tool. If you’ve been experiencing persistent pain or inflammation, you may have been advised to consider corticosteroid injections. . If you’ve been advised to consider this treatment, understanding its purpose, benefits, and potential side effects can help you make an informed decision.
What Are Corticosteroid Injections?
Corticosteroids are synthetic drugs that closely resemble cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. These medications are designed to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system's response, making them useful in treating conditions characterised by excessive inflammation. Corticosteroid injections often involve injecting corticosteroid medication and a local anaesthetic to the affected area.
How Do Corticosteroid Injections Work?
Corticosteroids are injected into the affected area often guided by an ultrasound to ensure the injection specifically targets the designated area.
These injections can work by:
Suppressing Inflammation: Corticosteroids reduce the activity of white blood cells and other inflammatory markers that contribute to swelling and pain.
Decreasing Immune Response: They modulate the immune system’s response to reduce the inflammation that often accompanies autoimmune conditions.
Common Uses of Corticosteroid Injections
Corticosteroid injections are commonly used to treat:
Joint Pain: Conditions such as arthritis, bursitis, or tendonitis.
Muscle Pain: For localised muscle pain or inflammation, these injections can provide significant relief.
Back Pain: In cases of herniated discs or spinal stenosis, corticosteroids may help alleviate discomfort.
What to Expect During and After the Injection
Your healthcare provider will first clean the injection site and may use imaging techniques, such as ultrasound, to ensure precise placement of the injection. You may receive a local anaesthetic to numb the area before the injection is done, the injection itself may cause a brief moment of discomfort.
After the injection, you might experience some soreness or swelling at the injection site, but this generally subsides within a few days. It’s important to follow any post-injection care instructions provided by your health care provider, which may include rest and avoiding strenuous activities to allow the medication to work effectively.
Benefits and Considerations
Benefits:
Targeted Relief: Directly addresses inflammation in the affected area.
Quick Onset: Many patients experience relief within a few days.
Reduced Need for Oral Medications: Can decrease the reliance on medications that potentially have more side effects.
Considerations:
Temporary Relief: The effects of corticosteroid injections are often temporary and other treatment options may be needed to fully get on top of someones pain.
Potential Side Effects: While generally safe, corticosteroid injections can have side effects such as increased blood sugar levels, weight gain, and rare instances of infection at the injection site.
Not a Cure-All: These injections are part of a broader treatment plan, which may include osteopath, exercise rehabilitation, lifestyle changes, or other interventions.
Integrating Corticosteroid Injections with Osteopathic Care
At Tugun Osteopathy, our goal is to address the cause/s of your symptoms and improve overall function. This may include combining injections with Osteopathic techniques to promote long-term health and wellness.